Illuminated level



April 30; 1940.

J. MORRIS 2.198.945

ILLUMINATED LEVEL July 10, 1939 Filed 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7 Inventor Sam Mar/"15" A itorneys 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 S. J. MORRIS ILLUMINATED LEVEL Filed July 10 1959 April 30, 1940.

jam J; Mar/A s I Attorneys;

Patented Apr. 30, 1940 UNITED STATE ILLUMINATED LEVEL- ;"1

Russell, Waco, Tex.

Application July 10, 1939, Serial No 283,703

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvementsin spirit levels and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an instrument of this character comprising novel means for electrically illuminating the bubble tubes when desired.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a level of the aforementioned character comprising a unique construction and arrangement whereby the electrical illuminating means may be removed as a unit.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an illuminated level of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact, light in weightand which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the-accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of an illuminated level constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in horizontal section through the device, taken substantially on the line,2-2

of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the plates on which the electrical apparatus is mounted, showing said plates separated, certain of the elec trical elements being illustrated on one of said plates.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a cast beam l of a suitable material having formed therein, at an intermediate point, a chamber 2 which is open on both sides. Adjacent the ends of the chamber 2, the beam l is further provided with 1 circular compartments 3 having mounted therein spirit or bubble tubes 4. Lenses 5 are provided in the side portions of the compartments 3. The chamber 2 communicates with the compartments .3 through passages 6 in the beam I.

The chamber 2 is closed at its sides through the medium of removable plates 1 and 8 which are detachably secured in position through the medium of screws 9. The plates! and 8 are'also of suitable metal; Mounted on theinner side of the plate 8 are insulating plates or sheets l0 and .II. The plates 8, l0 and II are illustrated to advantage in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Mounted on the plate II in the chamber 2 are vertically spaced resilient clips I2 which are adapted to releasably secure a pair of dry cell batteries l3 in position. Also mounted on the plate II on opposite sides of the clips l2 are pairs of opposed, resilient contacts M for engagement with the poles of the batteries l3. The reference numeralli designates a pair of comparatively small resilient clips which are mounted on the plate II for the reception of electric lamps I6. .It will be observed that the electric lamps l6 are positioned to illuminate the spirit tubes 4 in the compartments 3 through the passages 6.

The clips l5 are electrically connected with one of the contacts M, as at I1. A conductor l8 extending between two of the contacts I 4 electrically connects the batteries l3. Slidably mounted on the outer side of the plate 8 is a switch button l9 comprising spaced legs 20 which are operable in longitudinal slots 2| provided therefor in the'plates 8, H1 and H. Secured on the inner end portions of the legs 20 is a substantially U- shaped, resilient double contact 22 which is engageable selectively with the base contacts of the electric lamps Hi.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. When it is desired to illuminate the horizontalspirit tubes in one end portion of the instrument the switch button I9 is moved in that direction to engage one endportion of the double contact 22 with the corresponding lamp Hi. When it is desired to illuminate the other compartment 3 the button I9 is, of course, moved in the opposite direction. Thus, either of the compartments 3 may be conveniently illuminated. When the switch button l9 and the double contact 22 are in an intermediate or neutral position neither of the electric lamps I6 is energized. It will be noted that the current from both batteries I3 is utilized. By simply removing the plate 8 all of the electrical elements or members may be removed from the chamber 2. Thus, the batteries I3 and the electric lamps l6 may be expeditiously renewed when necessary. Insulated bolts 24 secure the electric lamp clips IS in position. These bolts are shown to advantage in Fig. 2 of the drawings.v Bolts 25 secure the battery clips l2 in position. Referring to Fig. 5

PATENT omen of the drawings, it will be observed that the bolts 25 are not insulated from the plate 8. One of the contacts I 4 is secured in position on the insulating plate II and electrically connected with the metallic plate 8 by a bolt 26. Thus, the electric circuit is completed when the switch contact 22 is moved to either of its closed positions.

It is believed that the many advantages of'an illuminated level constructed in accordance with i compartments, a plate removably mounted on the beam for closingthe chamber on one side, a pair of clips mounted on the inner side of said plate, electric lamps removably mounted in said clips for illuminating the compartments, additional clips mounted on the inner side of the plate, batteries removably mounted in the second named clips, means including resilient contacts mounted on the plate for electrically connecting the batteries, means mounted on the 10 plate electrically connecting the first named clips to the batteries, a metallic switch button slidably mounted on the plate and operable from the outer side thereof, metallic legs on the switch extending through the plate, said plate having slots'therein, said legs being operable in the slots, and a substantially U-shaped contact mounted on the legs and engageable with either of the lamps for closing an electric circuit thereto for selectively illuminating the spirit tube compart- 20 ments. SAM J. MORRIS. 

